Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-21
REPUDIATED.
THE VETERANS sPRAK WITH NO UNCER-
TAIN SOUND,
No Foundation Whatsoever for the Cincinnati
CommEcial-G asstts Telegram
Action Of Committees

The publication in yesterdays kEGlSrEK
of the telegram TO the Cincinnati CONNER
eial- Gazette, in which the statement was
made that the Reunion Committee had
responded 'rNo, thank you" TO an offer
of a high Democratic official to secure the
of President Cleveland here IN
August, stirred up the veterans IN a
very lively way, and during the day it
WAS manifested in variety of ways that
no one having the success Of the great
gatheringof old soldiers at heart held any
such sentiments rs those contained In the
telegram. In fact, the feeling in many
quarters was very warm, and some OF the
were more emphatic than nice.
Further than this, no one could be found
who had any knowledge whatever either
of the receipt OF any communication from
Washington, or ola telegram or letter sent
there upon the subject of possible Presi-
dental visit.
The Committee on Invitation OF the Re-
union is made up of Geo. B. Caldwell,
chairman; F. H. CragO, C. B. Hart, james
B. fancy, T. H. Logan, A. ]. Sweeney, W.
B. Curtis, 1. H. Duyal, w. p. Hubbard,
John Walton, C. j. Rawling and J. K.
Cowden. OF these Messrs. Curtis and
Duval live ont of the city. OF theremain-
inc ten members of the committee, nine
were seen BY REGISTER reporters yester-
day, and each gentleman denied emphat-
ically that there was any foundation for
the statement in regard to the President.
They said
Prof f. H. Crago-I knew absolutely
nothing of the matter until | saw the REG
IsTER this morning. The committee has
never been called together, and could not,
therefore, have taken any official action.
There ia no sentiment existing among SOL
diers which would excuse such state
ment.
DIR. T. H. Logan-The whole thing is
news to me.
Hon. A. j. Sweeney cannot find Ian
guage strong enough TO condemn the state
ment. The committee never received any
such communication, nor sent out such o
reply.
w. p. HUBBARD had not heard Of the
affair until saw the telegram IN the REG-
IsTER.
.Jobn Walton-So far as / know, the
Committee has never had meeting. l
never heard of the reply to an offer from
Washington to have the President come on.
C.. J. Rawling-There is nothing In the
story. The President is entitled to all re-
spect, even though he is Democrat, and
he would be welcomed here.
J.R. Cowden-The whole thing Is news
10 me.
Geo. B. Caldwell, Chairman never
heard of the matter until this afternoon
The whole thing is false.
Old soldiers, members of the q. A. Il. as
well as those without the pale OF that or
ganizatiOn, and everyone connected with
the Reunion who were spoken to on the
matter, quickly repudiated the sentiments
EXPRESSED in the Commercial Gazette, and
deeply regretted that the telegram had ever
been sent, and no doubt was left by last
night that the whole thing was either Ca
nard OF a grievous error.
Last evening the Executive Committee
of the Reunion, consisting of Judge Thayer
Melvin. Chairman: c z. Irwin, Recording
Secretary; ]. K. Cowden, Corresponding
Secretary; P. b. DObbius, Treasurer W.
n. Sheib, and Thomas O'Brien, met at the
Headquarters on Chapline street. Geo. B.
Caldwell, Chairman Of the Committee on
Invitations, was present, and general
discussion of the whole subject was had,
those present being at times rather EN-
phatic in the expression OF their views.
Finally with the approval of those present,
the following was drawn up and signed:
To the Editor Of the Register:
SIR:-Since noon to-day Monday, Goth
inst. my attention has been called to a
statement in your paper, quoted from the
Cincinnati Commercials Gazette, IN effect
that an offer had been made by promi-
uent West Yirginian To the Committee ON
Invitation of the coming Reunion, to obtain
the attendance of President Cleveland
at the Reunion, and that the committee
had declined the otter. The undersigned
has been named as chairman tor the Com
mittes ON Invitation. That committee
has never received such an offer, nor de-
elined the same, formally or intormally. ]
have never heard of such an oner, directly
or indirectly, until this afternoon, aud now
have no knowledge or information as 10
the same, except by the REGISTER OF TO-
day. u. b. Caldwell.
The Executive Committee drew up the
following:
At meeting of the Executive Commit
tee of the Society OF the Army Of West
Virginia, held on the 10Th instant, the
article in the REGISTER of that date, saving
in substance that a prominent West Slr-
pipian in Washington bad volunteered to
procure the attendance of President Cleve-
land at the coming reunion, and that such
offer had been declined, being called to
the attention OF the Executive Committee,
II WAS resolved that this committee dis
ayow ali knowledge of such offer and de-
cination, and being advised by Col. u.
h. Caldwell, Chairman o. the Committee
ON Invitations, that he has no such Epowl-
edge, pronounce such statement an entire
mistake.
THAYEa MELVIN, Chairman.
c. +. IRWIN, Secretary.
There was n very decided feeling mani
tested yesterday and last night in favor Of
the exercise of the greatest caution, in the
future, in the publication of news concern
ing the Reunion. 1t was felt that with 50
much at stake, the circulation Of reports
based on heresay, or upon nothing at all,
might easily do great deal of damage tc
the project, and half dozen members Of
various committees requested that every
thing might be verified by the Chairman
of the committee interested, before being
given to the public.
PROTESTS.